The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-12-08
HOW HEGOTTHE CHURCH
THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN DR..
DEEMS AND VANDERBILT.

! w
DEEMS AND VANDERBILT.
: he IGloqucnt North Carolina Divin,
Makes His Homo In New York and
Establishes the sfChurch of the Stran
gers.''
E.etracf from DR.. Deems al Romance of Pror
idence.''
GDr. Charles F. Deems, once a tu
tor in the University and later a be
loved minister in the North Carolina
Methodist Conference, is known all
over cur State. We think an aocou4fi
Of his success as pastor of fourishing
church in New York City will be ful
Of interest to our readers.-EDIToT
SENTINEL
The Doctor was calling on Commo-
do-e Vanderbilt when the following
conversation took place.
Doctor what is this about that
Mercer street property ?
Well said I, Commodore, only
this: it is in the market. They want
$4,000 for it, and / ventureI to offer
them $4,000. It is on leased ground,
and think it is about worth that
"'Well,' said he, how much have
you got toward your $4,000
| telt in my pocket playfully and
said
Well, sir, as nearly a. 1 can judge,
about seventy-fve or eighty cents
How do you expect to pay for it
then ?
well, Commodore, this is my
thought about it. | have been here
preaching some little time. NY work
seems TO prosper. / shall propose to
the Mercer Street Presbyterian
Church to let me have their building
ior six months. l shall preach in it
those six months. 1 shall announce to
the PEOPLE Of New York that wish to
establish, on en- unsectarian basis, a
free Church for all comers, especially
strangers in the city-a Church that
shall be evangelical and undenomina-
tionai; and I shall appeal for the
money in large sums and small Now,
Commodore, if God wants me to stay
in New York and do this work to
which my heart seemA inclined, the
money viii come. If not, the Mercer
street brethren have only lost the use
OF their property six months, and it
will have been employed in Christian
work. But believe the money will
come and the Church go on
lie looked me straight in the eve.
and said:
Doctor, I'll give you the church"
In minute | was mad. | had not
been made SO angry since l reached
New York. [ thought that Commo-
dore Vanderbilt desired to obtain the
property for some railroad or other
business purpose, or for his estate
that he had some deep design, and
chose to put me forward. supposing 1
was q greenhorn of parson from the
pine forests Of North Carolina, and he
could use me. [ fired up, and, leaning
upon the table, looked him straight n
the eye, and said: Commodore Van
derbilt, you don't know mel There
IS not any man in America rich
enough to have me for a chaplain I
shall never forget the look he return
ed. He had been accustomed to be
solicited. Here he was, making the
largest offer of charity he ever had
made, and found a man refusing to
accept S50,00Ol It was an amazed
and quizzical look 1t was the look
OF . man who had new sensation,
and could not tell whether he was en-
toying it or not. AS soon as he could
frame q reply, he said: Doctor,
don't know what you mean Me have
q chaplain The Lord knows I've
got as little use for a chaplain as any
other man you ever saw. 1 want to
give you this church, and give 1t to
you only. Now, will you take it?'
=" paused moment, and felt that,
perhaps, had made mistake in the
man, and then said:
Commodore, | should not like to
be under so great a pecuniary obliga-
ton to any gentleman, that, when [
had the guns of the Gospel directed
against the breastworks of any partic
ular sin, and should see his head ris-
ing above them, [ should be tempted
to suspend my fire, or change the
range Of my shot
Doctor, said he, L would not
give you cent If did not believe
that you were SO Independent man
that you would preach the Gospel as
honestly to one man as 10 another.
Now, | believe that, and / want to
give you the church,
After the discharge Of the light
ming of my anger, 1 felt that sort of
April shower was coming. My eyes
were moistening. 1t seemed to me
wonderful providence and you know
we always think it is a wonderful
providence if it runs with our ideas. I
extended my hand and said, 'Commo-
dore, if you give me that church for
the Lord Jesus Christ, I'll most thank
fully accept it.
"'No, said he; Doctor, 1 would
not give it to you that way, because
that would be protesting to you a re-
ligons sentiment [ do not feel.
want to give you church That's all
there is. It is one friend doing some
thing for another friend. Now, if you
take it that way, I'll give it to you
We both rose at the same moment
and | took his hand and said: Com
modore, in what ever spirit you give
it, am deeply obliged, but 1 shall re-